2013 Editor's Choice

2013 Editors' Choice Road Bike Winners

Best Women’s Race Bike: Specialized Amira SL 4 Pro SRAM Compact

2 / 8

Satisfy your craving for speed

Whether we were climbing through avocado groves, dropping into shaded canyons, or meandering along rolling hills, the Amira was a nimble, engaging playmate. “It’s light, efficient, back-friendly, and climbs like a mountain goat,” said one tester. The FACT 11r carbon frame shares plenty of technology with the Tarmac race bike to ensure efficiency, but it has a longer head tube, shorter top tube, and more standover clearance. One tester noted that the Amira’s geometry “felt the most female-friendly,” compared with the other finalists. She also praised the touch points—the narrow handlebar and comfortable- saddle. Compared with Specialized’s endurance-oriented Ruby, this bike’s wheelbase and chainstays are shorter, resulting in a racy frame that can be pushed hard but is also fun to ride on training days. We can’t imagine a better companion for competitors who race and train on the same bike.